Aerospatiale AS-350BII accident near Vernal, Utah, February 7, 2003
On February 7, 2003 at about 4:09 pm local time, a Aerospatiale AS-350BII (helicopter), registered CFLHA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vernal, Utah. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate planning resulting in his inattentiveness of the attached longline. Contributing factors were the entanglement of the longline in the tail rotor, failure of the tail rotor drive shaft, and subsequent inability of the pilot to control the aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 7, 2003 · about 4:09 pm local time
- Place
- Vernal, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS-350BII · all AS-350BIIs on the register
- Registration
- CFLHA · no longer on the register · serial 2480
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot performed a normal helicopter departure with a longline attached. He reported he forgot that the longline was attached and he did a normal takeoff. He felt a jerk and heard a bang, and the helicopter began to rotate. Postimpact examination of the tail rotor assembly reveled that the longline was entangled in its shaft. Additionally, the tail rotor drive shaft was found separated.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,054 hours in all
- Last flight review: January 23, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,275 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 19, 2003; 87 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,961 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca Arriel IDI (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Vernal UT at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.32 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from VEL, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.